A Declaration by the representatives of the United Colonies of North-America [microform] : met in general congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms : also, an address from the twelve United Colonies, by their delegates in Congress, to the inhabitants of Great-Britain

i ae BY 2 HE oe es ee
R E) P RE SEN TATIV Bh
oo OF THB... ee
United Colonies of Ne rh. America a a
“MET in GENERAL CONGRESS, | +

railed Mh PHILADELPHIA, a

0 isis SETTING, FORTH. re :
: eg CAUSES and NECESSITY. i
of ‘their taking up Anus, a bankiin : "s
ba es fe “ioe ot Wee hs Sidibtend ae
cen A D DR E s Ss :
- f “FROM: : “a8 : ‘
‘The Twelve United Colonies : 4
| By’ their: Devecares:in Concress, ;

, To cet bapibants of Great-BriTain, :

--

“PHILADELPHTA, Printed: by 'W, and T. BeapyonD, ,
And DEVICES: Reprinted: by T. Burnaovox, 1118

_ fice THREE+ PEN C E)

hele DA”

sia
DECLARATION, &c,

™ F it was poffible for men; who exercife their reafon
"yto Lelieve, that the divine Authog of our exiftence
he intended a/part of tlie luman race tp hold an ab;
"Sy Yooer ee folute property in, and an unbounded power over
eae ane bs jk Bue pride ¥ -by his iafinite goodnefs and

m®" wifdcm, 45 the objects of a legal domination, never
rightfully refiftible, however feyere and oppreifive, the inhabi-
tants of thefe colonies might at-leafi require trom the parliament
of Great-Britain, fome evidence, that this dreadful authority
over them has been granted to that body. But a reverence for
our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the ditates of
common fenfe, mu convince all thofe wha reflect uponthe fubject,
that government was inftituted to promote the welfare of that
mankind, and ought to be admainiftered, for ghe attainment of
end. The legiflature of Great-Britain, however ftimulated by an
inordinate paffion for a power not enly unjuftifiable, but which
they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very conftitution
of that kingdom, nd defperate‘of fyecefs in any mode of conteft,
where regard fhould be had to trath, law, or right, have.atJength,
deferting thofe, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic pur-
pofe of enflaving thefe colonies by violence, and thereby have ren-
dered it neceflary for us to clofe with their laft appeal from rea-
fon to arms. Yet, however blinded that atfembly may be, *by
thelr intemperate rage for unlimited domination, fo to flight
juftice, and the opinion of mankind, we efteem ourfelves bound
by obligations of refpett to the reft of the world, to. make known
the juftice of our caufe,

4 *

Our fore-fathers, inhabitants of the ifland of Great-Biitain,
left their native land, to feek on thefe fhores a refidence for
civil and religious Freedom. At the expence of their blood, at
the hazard of fortunes, without the leaft, chaige to. the country
from which they removed, by unceafing labour, and an unconquer-
able fpirit,: they effected fettlements in the dittant and inhofpi-
table wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike
nations of barbarians. Societies or goverameéhts, vefted with

perfect

¢ 3)

a. perfect legiflatures, were formed under charters from the crown, |
—— and an harmonious intercourfe was eftablithed tetwéen ‘tie c6-.
lonies and the kingdom ‘from which they derived thelr origin.

The mutual benefits of this union became in a thort time fo ex-

traordinary as to excite aftonifhment. It is univerfally confef-

fed, tliat the amazing increafe of the wealth, ftrength, and ‘na-'
® vigation of the realm, arofe trom this fource; and t @ minifter
. who fo wifely and fuccefsfully direéted the meafures of Gréat-
Britain in the late war, publicly declared, that thefe cdloniés

eafon enabled her to triumph.over her enemies, Towards the conclu-
Rencg, fion of that war, it pleafed our fovereign to make a change in
n abs his counfel.. From that fatal moment, the affairs of the Briti fh’
over empire began to fall into confulion, and gradually fliding from
; and the furmit of gloriow profperity, to which they had been ad-
never vanced, by the virtues and abilities of one man, are at. length
habi- diftraéted by the convullions, that now thake it fo its deepeft.
mene oundations, The new miniftry finding the brave foes of Britain,
ority though frequently defeated, yet ftill contending, took up the
ce for unforttmate idea of granting them an hafty peace, and of then
es of fubduing her faithful friends,
that : :
nt of _ Thefe devoted colonies were judged to-be in fuch a ftaté as to
oy an prefent victories without bloodthed, and all the eafy émolument
vhich of ftatuteable plunder. The uninterrupted tenor of their peace-
ution able and refpectful behaviour from the beginning of colonization,
nteft, their dutiful, zealous and ufeful fervices during the war, though
ngth, fo recently and amply acknowledged: in the mott. honorable
pur- manner by his majefty. by the late king, and by parliament,
e ren- could not fave them from the meditated innovations. Parlia-
rea- ment was influenced to adopt the pernicious project, and affum-
pr by ing a new power overthem, have in the courfe of eleven years
ight given fuch decifive fpecimens of the fpirit and confequéncés at-
ound tending this power, as to leave no doubt concerning the effects
own of acquiefcence under it. They have undertaken to give and

grant our money without our conient, though we Have ever ex-
ercifed an exclufive right to difpofe of our own property ; fta-
tutes have been paffed for extending the jurifdittion of coutts of
Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty beyond their ancient limits ;
for depriving us of the accuftomed and ineftimable priviledge of
trial by jury, incafes affecting both life and property ;-— for
fufpending the legiflature of one of the colonics ; ——for inter-
diéting all commerce of another; ——and for altering fund2-
mentally the form of government eftablifhed by charter, and
fecured by atts of its own legiflature folemnly confirmed’ bY
* the

yn

Katee ison, meee inns > —otehenpemeene testi thee

C4]

the crown; for exempting the “ murderers” af ‘colonifts from les
al trial, and in effeét fiom punifliment; for ereétin: in a neigh
uring province, acquired by the joint arms uf Great-Britain and
America, a defpotifm dangerous to our very exiftence ; and for
uastering foldiers upon the colonifts in time of profound peace.
has alfo been refolved in Parliament, that colonifts charged
with committing certain offences, fhall be tranfported to Eng-
land tq be tried. -

~ But why fhould we enumerate our injyries in detail? By one
ftatute it is declared, that Parliament can “of right make laws
to bind us IN ALL CASES WHATSORVER.” What is to defend
us againf fo enormoys, fo ynfimited a power? Not a fingle man
of thofe who affume it is chofen by ys; or is fubjeét to our cone
troul or influence : but on the contrary, they are all of them ex-
empt from the operation of fuch laws, and an American revenue,
if not diverted trom the oftenfible purpofes for which it is raifed,
would aftually Jighten their own burdens in proportion as they
increafe ours. We faw the mifery to which fuch depotifm would
reduce us. We for ten years inceffantly and ineffectually befiegs
ed the throne as fupplicants ; we reafoned, we remonftrated with
parliament in the moft miid and decent langyage. But adminif-
tration fenfible that we fhould regard thefe appreffive meafures as
freemen ought to do, fent ‘over heets and armics to enforce them.
The indignation of the Americans was roufed it is true ; but it
was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people.
A Congrefs of Delegates from the united colonies was afiembled
at Philadelphia, on the fifth day of laft September. We refolv-
ed again to offer an humble and dutiful petition td the King, and
alfo addreffed our fellow fubjeéts of Great-Britain. We have
purfued every temperate, every refpectful meafure ; we have e-
ven proceeded to break off pur commercial intercourfe with our
fellow fubjeéts, as the laft peaceable admonition, that our attach-
ment to no nation onearth fhoul fupplant our attachment to li-
berty. This, we flattered ourfelves, was the ultimate ftep of the
controverfy: but fubfequent events have fhewn, how vain was
this hope of finding moderation in our enemies.

Several threatning expreffions againft the colonies were infert-
ed in his Majefty’s fpeech ; our petition, though we were told it
was a decent one, that his Maiefty had been pleafed to receive it

racioully, and to promife laying it before his parliament, was
Ruddled into both honfes amongit a bundle of American papers,
and there neglected. '

The

eobonresea s EB

rom les
neigh
in and
ind for
peace.
harged
> Eng-

By one
e laws
defend
le man
ir cone
em exe
venue,
raifed,
as they
‘would
befiegs
d with
Iminif-
fures as
= them.
; mt

ople.
pitied
refolv-
ig, and
> have
lave e-
th our
attach-
t to li-
of the
n was

infert-
told it
eive it
» was
Da pers,

The

{+s
_ {The-Loards and Gommons in their addres, in the month of Fe-
bruary, faid, that <a rebellion at that tim actually exifted with-
in the province of Maffachufett’s-bay ;'and that thofe concerned
in it, had been cuuntenanced and encouraged by unlawful combi-
Nations and engagements, entered into by his Majefty’s fubjeéts
in feveral of the other colonies; and therefore they befought his
Majefty, that he would take the moft effectual meafures to inforce
due obedience to the laws and authority of the fupreme legifla-
ture.”"—Soon after the commercial intercourfe of whole colonies,
with foreign countries and with each other, was cut off by ali act
of parliament : by another, feveral of them were entirely prohibit-
ed from the fitheries in the. feas near their coaits, on which they
always depended for their fuftenance ; and large reinforcements
of fhips and troops were immediately fent over to General Gage.

‘Fruitlefs were all the entreaties, arguments and eloquefice of an
‘illuftrious. band of the moft diftinguifhed Peers & Commoners, who
nobly and ftrenuoufly afferted the juftice of our caufe, to ftay or
even to mitigate the heedlefs fury with which thefe accuntulated
and unexampled outrages were hurried on.—FEqually fruitlefs was
the interference of the city of London, of Briftol, and many other
refpeétable towns in our favour.'" Parliament adopted an infidi-
ous, mancuvre calculated to divide us, to eftablifh a ferpetual
auction of taxations where colony fhould bid againft colony, all
of them uninformed what ranfom would redeem their lives, and
thus to extort from us at the point of the bayonet, the imknowh
fums that: fhould be fufficient to gratify, if pofible to gratify, mi-
nifterial rapacity, with the miferable indulgence left to us of ‘rai-
fing in our own mode. the prefcribed tribute. What terms more
sigid and humiliating could have been dictated by remorfelefs
victors to conquered enemies? In our circumftances to accept
them would be to deferve them.

Soon after the intelligence of thefe proceedings arrived on
Ahis continent, General Gage, who, in tie courfe of the laft year,
had taken pofleffion of the town of Bofton, in the province of
Maffachufetts’s-bay, and ftill occupied it as a garrifon, on the
1gth day of April, fent out from that place a large detachment
of his army, who made an wiprovoked affault on the inhabitants
of the faid province, at the town of Lexington, as,appears. by
the affidavits of a great number of perfons, fome of whom were
officers and foldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of the
inhabitants, and wounded many others, From thence the troops

: preoeeded

| {6}
ed in warlike array to the town of Concord, where they
fet upon another b pal of the inhabitants of the fame province,
killing feveral and wounding more, untill compelled to retredt
by the country people fuddenly affembled to ‘repel this cruel age
prefion, Hoftilities thus commenced by the Britifh troops, have
fince profecuted by them without regard to faith or reputa-
tion.—The inhabitants of Bofton being confined within that
town by the General their Governor, and havirg in order to pro-
cure their difmiffion, entered into a treaty with him, it was fti-
pulated that the faid inhabitants having depofited their arms with
their own magiftrates, thuuld have literty to depart, taking with
them their other effects, bb 74 accordtegly delivered up their
.arms, but in open violation of honor, in defience of the obligati-
on of treaties, which even favage nations efleem facred, the Go-
vernor ordered the arms depofited as aforefaid, that they might
be preferved for their owners, to be feized by a body of foldiers;
detained the greateft part of the inhabitants in the town, and
compelied the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their
moft valuable effects behind. _

By this perfidy, wives are feparated from their hufbands, chil-
dren from their. parents, the aged and the fick from their relations
and friends, who with to atiend and comfort them ; and’ thofe
who have been yfed to live in pienty, and even elegance, are 7e-
duced to deplosable diftrefs,

The General further emulating his minifterial mafterss, by 2
proclamition bearing date on the 12th day of June, after vent-
ing the groffett falfhoods and caluninies againft the good people
of thefe colonies, proceeds to “ declare them alt either by name
“* or defcription to be rebels and traitors, to fupercede the courfe
** of the common law, and inftead thereof to publifh and order
*¢ the -ufe and exercife of the.law martial.”"—-His troops have
butchered our countrymen ; have wantonly burnt -Charles-Town,
befides a confiderable number of houfes in other places ; our fhig:
and veflels are feized ; the neceflary fupplies of provifions are’ in-
tercepted, and he is exerting his utmoft powey to fpread deftruc-
don and devaftation around him.

We have received certain intelligence, that General Carleton,

the Governor of Canada, is intligating the people of that province
and the Indians to fall upon us; and we have but too much-rea-
fon to apprehend, that fchemes-have been formed te excite do-
meftick enemies againft us,

In

ere the
rovince,
D retredt
ruc! age
ps, have
reputa-
in that
to fro-
was fti-
ms with
ng with
Piel
bbligatis
he Go.
y mnight
lidiers ;
yi, and
ve their

Is, chil.
lations
d thofe
are 7e-

» by a
1 oer
people
y name
courfe
t order
s have
Town,
ir this
are’ i}-
eftruc-

‘leton,
Vince
h-rea-
te do-

In

(7)

Ih brief, a part of thefe colonies now feels, and :ll of them
are fure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of adminiftration can
4nfli& them, the complicated calamities of fire, fword and fa-
‘mine.—We are reduced to the alternative of chufing an-uncon-
ditional fubmiffion to the tyranny’ of istitated minifters, or re-
fiftance by force.—-The: latter is'our choice.«»We have counted
the cott of this conteft, and find nothing fo dreadiul as volun-
tary flavery.—Honor, juftice, and'humanity. forbid us tamely to
furrender that freedom which we received from our gallant an-
ceftors, and which our innocent pofterity have a right to ‘receive
from uss We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of: refigning
fuctéeding generations to’ that wretchednefs whieh inevitably
awaits them, if we bafely entaib hereditasy bondage upon them.

Our caufe is juft. Our union is: perfet. Our internal re-
fources are great, and if neceflary, foreign affiftance is wndoubt-
édly attainablé.—We gratefully acknowledge, as fignal inflances
of the divine favour towards us, that his providence would'‘not
‘permit us to be called into this fevere controverfy, until we were

rown up to our prefent ftrength, had:been previoufly exercifed
in. warlike operations, and pofleffed of the means of defending
ourfelves.—With hearts fortified with thefe animating reflections,
we moft fotemaly befyre God (and: the-world: declare; that. ex-
erting the utmoft energy of thofe powers, which oui’ beneficient
Creator hath gracioufly beftowed upon us, the arms we have
been compelled by our enemies to affume,' we will, \in defiance
of every hazard, with unabating firmuefs and perfeverancé, em-
ploy for the, prefervation of ous liberties, being with one.mind
refolved to die freemen rather than tolive flave. =

Left this declaration fhould difquiet the minds of ‘our friends
and fellow-fubjefts in any part of the empire, we affure them,
that we mean not to diffolve that union which has fo long and
fo happily fubfifted between us, and which we fincerely with to
fee reftored. Neceffity has not yet driven us into that
defperate meafuse, or induced us to excite any other nation
to war againft them. We have not raifed armies with
ambitious defigns of feparating from Great-Britain, and efta-
blifhing independent fates. We fight not for glory or
for conqueft, We ‘exhibit to mankind the remarkble
fpectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without
any imputation, or even fufpicion of offence. They boaft of
their priviledges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder con-
ditions than fervitude or death, <

ge
[8 ) eh

In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our
birthright, and which we-ever enjoyed ‘till the late violation
of it--for the protection of our property, acquired folely by the
honeft induftry of our fore-fathers and ourfelves, againtt violence
actually offered, we have taken up arms. We. fhall lay them
down when hottilities fhall ceafe on the part of the aggref-
fors, and all danger of. their being renewed fhall be removed,
and not before.

With an humble confidence in the metcies of the fupreme and
impartial Judge and Ruler of the univerfe, we moft devout)
implore his divine goodnefs to condué us happily through
this great confli€, to difpofe our adverfarics to reconcilation
on reafonable terms, and thereby to refieve the empire from
the calamities of civil war.’

By Order of Conorrss,-
JOHN HANCOCK, Prefitent.

Attefted,

Cu artes Tuomeson, Secretary,
Puirapareuta, July 6th, 1975.

The TWELVE UNITED COLONIES,
By their DeneGates in ConaRress, r

To the Inhabitants of Great-Britain,
FRienps, CounTRYMEN, and BretTuRen !

Y thefe, and by every other appellation, that may defignate
the ties, which bind US to each other, we entreat your
ferious attention to this our fecond attempt, .to prevent their
diffolution.—R«membrance of former friendfhips,—pride in the
glorious atchievcments of our. conmon anceftoss, and affection
for the heirs of their virtues, have hitherto preferved our mu-
tual connection. ———But when that friendfhip: is violated by the
groffeft injuries; when the pride of anceftry becomes our re-
proach, and. we are no otherwife allied than as tyrants and
flaves, when reduced to the melancholy alternative of renounc-
ing your favor, ur our freedom—can we hefitate about the
choice? Letthe fpirit of Britons determine.
Ina former Addrefs, we afferted our Rights, and tated the
injuries we had then received. We hoped, that the mention of
pur wrongs, would have roufed that honeft indignation, which
has

C9]

‘isou has flept too'long for horior, or the welfate of the empire,
"tal ematiat we have Hot teen permitted to entertain this pleafing
by the expectation nrevery day brought an accumhulation of injuries,
slence and the invention of the miniftry has been conftantly exercifed,
them in adding to the calamities of your American Brethren.
ret-

abil After the moft ‘valuable right of legiflation was’ infringed,
when the powers, aflumed by your patliament, in which we are

eand not reprefented, and from our local and other circumfances,
routh cannot properly be reprefented, rendered our property preca-
rough rious. After being denied that mode of tryal to which we have
lation long been indebted for the fafety of our ths ‘the pre-
from fervation of our Liberties :—after ‘being in many’ inftances di-

vefted of thofe laws, which were tranfmitted to'US, : by ove
common Anceftoss, and fubjected to an arbitrary code, com-
ident. piled under the dae of ‘Roman tyrants ; after annulling
thofe charters, which encouraged our predeceflors' ta brave
death and danger in every fhape, on unknown feas, in defarts

Yo :
aay unexplored, amidft barbarous and inhofpitable ‘nations! —when,
without the form of tryal, without a public accufation, whole
ie colonies were condemned ! their trade deftroyed ; their inhabi-
tants impoverifhéd.—When foldiers were encouraged to embrue
ES, their hands'in the blood ‘of Ameticdins, by offers of impunity;
t —when new modes of tryal were inftituted ‘for the tuin of the
accufed, where the'charge carried with it the: hofrors:of con-
vidtion ; — ‘when’ a defpotie government was éftablifhed in a
neighbouring ‘province, and’its limits extended to every of our
frontiers ;‘we ‘little imagined that‘any thing could be added to
‘ this black catalogue-of unprévoked injuries; = but we have
bnate unhappily been deceived ; atid ‘the “late meafures of the Britith
your miniftry fully convince us, that their object is the reduétion of
their thefe colonies to flavery and ‘rainy: « : Ee)
1 the Seth iakated hat nih
ion : To confirm this affertion, ‘let us recal your attention to the
mu- affairs“of America, fince our laft addrefs ;—let us combat the
v the ‘calumnies of our'enémies — and let-us warn you of the dangers
r ree that threaten ydu, in ‘our deftruétion. Many of your fellow-
and fubjects, whofe fittation deprived them of other fupport, «drew
unc- their maintenance from the ‘fea; but the deprivation of ouc
the Liberty being infufficient to fatisfy the refeutment of our ene-
mies, the horrors of famine were fuperadded, and a Britith
the parliament, who, in better times were the proteétors of inno-
n of cence and the patrons of humanity, have, without diftinétion
lich of age orfex, robbed thoufands of the iood which they were
has accuftemed

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.eccuftomed to draw, from that -inexhauftible fource, placed in

their neigltbourhood by. the benevolent Creator.
Another act of your legiflature thuts our ports and prohibits

our trade with any but thofe ftates, from whom the great law of

felf prefervation renders it..abfolutely neceffary we fhould at
prefent witheid our commerce.—But this act (whatever may

-have been: its ,defign) we:confider rather as injurious to your
‘opulence, than thanour intereft,——Al! our commerce termin-
ates with you ;. and ‘the ;wealth we procure from other nations,

is foon exchanged for your fuperfluities.—Our remittances muft
then ceafe with-our trade; and our refinements with our affluence.
We truft however, that laws which deprive us of every bleffing,

‘but a foil that teems withthe neceffaries of life, and that liberty
‘which renders the enjoyment of them fecure, will not relax onr
-wigour in their defence.

We might here obferve on the cruelty and. inconfiftency of
thofe, who, while they publickly brand us with reproachful and
unworthy epithzts, endeavour to deprive us of the means of de-

.fence,-by their interpofition with foreign powers, and to deliver

us to theilawlefs ravages of a mercilefs foldiery. But happily
we are not! without refources.;. and tho’ the ‘timid and humilia-

‘ting applications ofa Britith miniftry should prevail with foreign

nations;:yet: induftry, prompted by neceffty, will not leave us

.without the neceflary fupplies.

We could. with te go.no farther—and, not,.to wound the ear
ofthumanity, leave untold thofe rigorous aéts of oppreffion which
are daily exercifed in the town of Bofton, did we not hope, that

‘by difclaiming their deeds, and punifhing the perpetrators, you
‘wold fhortly-vindicate the honor of the Britifh name, and re-

eftablith the violated laws of juftice.
That once populous, flourithing and commercial. town is now
arrifoned by an army fent, not to protect, but to enflave its
inhabitants--The civil government is overturned, and a military

defpotifm ereéted upon its ruinsis-Without law, without sight,

powers are affumed unknown to the conftitution.--Private pro-
perty is unjuftly invaded.—The inhatitants daily fubjetted to
the licentioufnefs of the foldiery, are forbid. to remove in dee
fiance of their natural rights, in violation of the moft folema

‘compacts, Or if after long and wearifome folicitation, a pafs

is procured, their effeéts are detained, and even thofe who are
moft favoured, have no alternative but poverty or flavery.—-
The diftrefs of many thoufand people, wantonly deprived of the
meceffaries of life, isa fubjeét on which we would not with te

enlarge. ,
Yet

[a J.

d im » Yet we cannot bit obferve, that a Britith fleet (unjuftified ev-

as en by acts of your legiflature) are daily employed in ruining our
Nibits commerce, fefzing our thips, and depriving whole communities
w of of their daily breads. Nor willg@ regard for your honor, permit us
1 at to be filent, while Britifh troops tully your glory, by actions
sed which the moft inveterate enmity will not paliate among civiliz-
your ed nations; the wanton and uneceflary deftruction of Charles-
mine Towa, a large; ancient, and once populous tows, juft before ‘de-
Ons, ferted by its inhabitants, who had fled to avoid. the fury of your
muft foldiery. 4 |
NnCe. ‘ . ‘
ing, ._ If you till retain thofe fontiments of compaflion by which
erty Britons have ever been diftinguifhed.--If the humanity which |
Ll tempered the valour of our. common anceftors, has not dege- i
: nerated: into cruelty, you will:lament the miferies of their de- i
y of {cendants. |
and ; |
de- To what are we to attribute this treatment? If to any fecret
liver principle of the conftitution let it be mentioned—let, us learn if
ppily that the government we have long revered is not without.its de- i}
ilia- fects, and that while it gives freedom to a part, it neceflaily -en \
eign flaves the remainder of the empire. If fuch a principle: ¢xifts !
+ why forages has it ceafed to operate?) Why at this. time és ic |
called into a@tion? Can no reafon be affigued for, this. conduct ? |
Arid Or mutt it be refolved intosthe wanton .exercife of arbitrary
hich power?* And fhall) the defcendants of . Britons tamely fubmit to
that this No Sirs! We never will, :while'we revere the memory of
you our gallant ahd virtuous anceftors, we never can furrender thofe
a re- glorious privileges, for which they fought, bled, and conquered.
Admit that your fleets could deftroy our towns, and ravage our
now fea coafts ; + thefe are inconfiderable: objects, things of no mo- f
e its ment: to men whofe bofoms glow with the ardor of liberty.—
itary ‘We can retire beyond ‘the reach.of your navy, and without any
ight, fenfible diminution of the neceffaries of life, enjoy a luxury
pro= which from that period you will want; THE LUXURY OF |
ed to BEING ‘BREE, , : |
n de- rewolt ss |
lema We know’ the force of your arms, and was it called forth in

\
|
pafs the caufe of juftice and your country, we might dread the ex-
|

» ase ertion. —But will Britons fight under the banners of tyranny ?
pate Will they counteract the labours, and difgrace the victories
the of their anceftors?:——- Will. they, forge chains for their pof-

nh te fterity ? If they defcend to this unworthy tafk, will. their

{words retain their edge,——‘their arms their accuftomed vi-

Yet Gor f}——-=-Britons can never become the ietruments of op-

preflion |

}

ee 4 re eee . aft

{ 12 J

preffion, till they lofe the fpirit of freedom, by which afone they
are invincible.

Our enemies charge us with fedition ; In what does.it confift?
In our refufal to fubmit to unwatrantable aéts of injuttice and
cruelty? If fo, thew us a period in your hiftory, in which you
have not been.equally feditious?

‘We are accufed of aiming at Independence; but how is this
accufation fupported ? By the allegations of your minifters,’not by
our actions. Abufed, infulted, and contemned, what fteps have
we purfued to obtain redrefs? We have carried our dutiful peti-
tions to the throne ;—we have applied to your juttice for relief,
we have retrenched our luxury and witheld aur trade.

‘The advantages of our commerce were detigned as a compen-
fation for your protection : When you ceafed to protect, for what
were ‘ve to compenfate ? ;

What has been the fuccefs of our endeavours? The clemency of
our foveteign: is unhappily diverted; our petitions are treated
with indignity ; our prayers anfwered by infults. | Our. applica-
tion to you remains unnoticed, and leaves us the melancholy. ap-
prehenfion; of your wanting either the will, or the powers, to af-

us. . bids i ;
‘Even under thefe circumftances, what meafures have we taken
thaz betray a defire of independence ? Have we called in the aid
of thofe foreign powers, who. are the rivals of your grandeur ?
When your troops were few and defencelefs, did we take advan-
tage of their diftrefs and expel. them our towns? Or. have we
permitted them to fortify, to receive new aid and to acquire ad-
ditional ftrength?

Let not your enemies and. ours perfuade you, that in this we
were influenced by fear or any other unworthy motive. The lives
of Britons are ftill dear to us.—-They are the Children of our pa-
rents, an uninterupted intercourfe of mutual benefits had knit the
bonds of friendfhip.— W hen hoftilities were commenced, when or
a late occafion we were wantonly attacked by your troops, tho
we repelled their affaults, and returned their blows, yet we la-
mented the wounds they obliged us to give ; nor have we yet
learned to rewice at a victory over Englifhmen.

As we with not. to colour our actions, or difguife our thoughts ;
we fhall, in the fimple language of truth, avow the meafures we
have purfued, the motives upon which we have aded, and our

future defigns.
When

[ 13]

When our late petition tothe throne produced no other effect
than frefh injuries, and votes of your legiflature, calculated to
jutify every feverity ; when your fleets, and your armies, were
prepared to wreft from us our property, to rob us of our Liberties
or our lives ; wien the hoftile attempts of General Gage evinced
his defigns, we levied armies for our fecurity and defence; when
the powers vefted in the governor of Canada, gave us reafon
to apprehend danger from that quarter ; and we had frequent
intimations, that a cruel and favage enethy was to be let lnofe
upon the defencelefs inhabitants of our frontiers ; we took fuch
meafur:s as prudence dittated, as neceffity will juftifv. We
poffeffed ourfelves of Crown-Point and Ticonderoga. Yet give
us leave, moft fclciinly to affure you, that we have not yet loft
fight-of the ohje@& we have ever had in view; a reconciliation
with you on conftitutional principles ; and a reftoration of that
friendly intercourfe, which, to the advantage of both, we "till
lately maintained.

The inhabitants of this country apply themfelves chiefly to
agriculture and commerce. As their fafhions and manners are
fimilar to yours, your markets muft afford them the conveniencies
and luxuries, ‘or which they exchange the produce of their J2-
bonrs. The wealth of this extended continent centers with you;
and our trade is fo regulated as to be fubfervient, only to your
intereft. You are too reafonable to expeéct that by taxes (in ad-
dition to this) we fheuld contribute to your expence, ‘to believe
after diverting the fountain that the ftreams can flow with un-
abated force. ; ;

It lias been faid that we refufe to fubmit to the reftrictions on
our commerce. From whence is this inference drawn? Not
from our words, we having repeatedly declaied the contrary,
and we again pzofefs our fubmiffion to the feveral aéts of trade
and navigation paffed before the year 1763, trufting neverthe-
lefs in the equity and juflice of parliament, that fuch ot them-as
upon cool and impartial confideration, fhall appear to have im-
pofed unneceffary or grievous reftrictions, will, at fome happier
pericd, be repealed or altered. And we chearfully confent to
the operation of fuch aéts of the Britifh parliament, as fhall be
reftrained to the regulation of our external commerfe for the
purpofe of fecuring the commercial advantages of the whole em-
pire to the mother-country, and the commercial benefits of its
refpective members, excluding every idea of taxation internal
or external, for raifing a revenue on the fubjects in America,
Without their confent, '

t

[14 J

‘It is alledged. that we contribute nothiitg:to the commen de-
fence ; to this we anfwer, that the advantages which Greate.
Britain ‘receives from the monopoly of out. trade, far exceeds
our proportion of the expence neceffary for Yhat purpofe. But
thould thefe advantages be inadequate theret® let the reftric-
tions on our trade be removed, and we wil chterfully contribute
fuch. proportion whea conftitutionally requirctt, ;

It is a fundamental principle of the Britith conftitution, that
_ every man fhould have.at leatt a reprefentative { We in the for-

mation of thofe laws by which he is bod. Were it other-
wife, the regulation of our internal police by a Britith Parlia-.
ment, who are, and ever will be unacquainted with ous local
circumftances, muft be always inconvenient, and frequently op-
preflive, working our wsong, without yielding any poffible ad-
Vantage. to you.

A plan of accommodation (as it has been abfurdly caled) has
been propofed by your minifters to our refpettive aifemblies.
Were ‘this propofal free from every other. objection but that
which arifes from the time of the offer, it would not. be unex-
ceptionable. Can men deliberate with the bayonet at they
breaft? Can they treat with freedom while their towns are fack-~
ed; when daily inftances of injuftice and oppreffion, difturh
the flower operations of reafon? .

Ff this propsfal is realy fuch as you fhould offer, and we ac-
sept, why was it delayed till the nation was put to wfelef expences

and we were reduced to our prefent melancholy fituation

If it holds forth nothing, why was it propofed? Unlefs in-
deed to deceive you into a belicf that we were unwilling ta
hiften to-any terms of accommodation: but what is fubmitted
to our comfideratiou? we coniend for the difpofal of our pro-
perty ; we aretold that our demand is unreafonable, that our
affemblies may indeed collect our money, but that they muft
at the fame time offer, not what your exigencies or ours may
require, but fo much as fhall be deemed futficient to fatisty the
dclires of a minifter, and enable him to provide for favorites
and dependants. (4 recurrence to your own treafury will convince
got how lithe of the money already extoried from us hasbeen applied to the
uelicf of your burdens) Yo fuppote that we would. thus grafp the.
fhadow and give up the fubftance, is adding infult to injuries.

We have neverthelefs again prefented an humble and du-
tiful petition to our Sovereign : and to remove every imputation
ef obitinacy, have requefted his Maitefty fo dire fome modt

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dy which the united applications of ‘his faithful colonifts may be tinproved
intoa happy and permanent Reconciliation. We are willing to treat
on fuch terms as can alone render ‘an accommodation lafting,
and we flatter ourfelves, that otir pacific endeavours will be at-’
tended with a removal of the troops, a repeal of thofe laws, of the
operations of which we complain on the one part, and a diffilution of our:
army and commercial affociations on the other. oTEE cad

Yet conchide not from this, that we propofe to furrender our
property into the hands of your minifiry, or vet your parliament’ with a
power which may terminate in our defruftion.——The' great bul-
warks of our conftitution we have defired to maintain by every
temperate, by every peaceable means ; but your minifters, (equal
foes to Britifh and American freedom) have added to their for-
mer oppreffions, an attempt to reduce us by the {word to a bafe and
abjeét fubmifficn, On the {word therefore we are compelled to
rely for prote€tion. Should victory declare in your favour, yet
men trained to arms from their infancy, and animated by the Love
of Liberty, will afford neither a cheap or eafy conqueft. Of this
at leaft we are affured, that our ftruggle will be glorious, our
fuccefs certain, fince even in death we fhall find that freedom
which in life you forbid us to enjoy.

Let us now afk, What advantag:s are to attend our reduttion ?
the trade of a ruined and defolated country is always inconfiderable, its
revenue trifting ; the expence of fubjecting and retaining it in fubjeEtion
certain and inevitable. “What then remains but the gratifications
of an ill-judged pride, or the hope of rendering us fubfervient
to detigns cx your liberty.

Soldiers who have fheathed their fwords in the bowels of their
American Brethrex, will not draw them with more reluétance a@-
gainft you, when too late you may lament the lofs of that freedom,
which we exhort you, while ftill in your power, to preferve.

{ On the other hand, fhould you prove unfuccefsful; fhould that
conneétion which we moft ardently wifh to maintain be diffolved ; fhould
gour minifers exhauft your treafures 3 wafte the blood of your country-men
‘in-vain attempts on cur Liberty ; do they uct deliver you, weak and
defencelefs, to your natural encmies ?

S*-ce then your Liberty muft be the price of your victories, your
ruin of your defeat, What blind fatality can urge you to a pur-
fuit deftruttive of all that Britons hold dear ?

LB

ies SSE VER OES
ve Ra wg + BUR A

fi a6:
* ¥f you have noregard to the connection: that:
fifted: between us PF you tied Pigorthe “
fighting by. your fide, for.the extenfion of the empl
commerce. is an objec? below your confideration,; if }
humanity have loft their influence on your he i il

are not wanting to excite your. indignation i le. meafures now.
pufied: your wealth, yous honour, your liberty are at flake,

. Notwithflanding the. diftrefs, to: which, we ase reduced, we
fometimes forget our own. afflictions ta anticipate and fympa-
thize in:yours,, We.grieve that rafh and inconfiderate councils
thould precipitate the deftruction of an empire, which has been:
the envy and admiration of ages; and call Gop to witnefs, that,
we would part with our property, endanger our lives, and fa-
crifice every thing but Liberty, to redeem you from ruin.

A | hangs over your heads and ours; e'er this reaches
you, it may probably have.burft upon us; let us then (before
the remembrance of former kindnefs is obliterated), once more
repeat, thofe, appellations which are. ever grateful in our ears.
Let us entreat heaven to avert our ruin, and the deftrudtion that
threatens our friends, brethren, and countrymen on the other
fide of the Atlantic, .

By Order of the CONGRESS,

JOHN HANCOCK, Prefident.

Attefted by !
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary,

Put avetrata, July 8) 1975.0

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